Cup-shaped wrench for threaded fittings



Feb. 16, 1954 RAUSCH 2,669,144

CUP-SHAPED WRENCH FOR THREADED FITTINGS Filed Jan. 10, 1951 Fig 3 46 Edward Rausch I4 22 48 22 0 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 16, 1954 OFFICE cur SHAPED WRENCH Eon THREADED mr'rmes Edward Rausch, Baltimore, Md. Application January 10, 1951, Serial No. 205,354

2 Claims. (Cl. 81-65) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a wrench and more specifically pertains to a plumbers wrench especially adapted to securely grip the exteriorly threaded surfaces of such plumbers fittings as sink strainers, cup strainers, sink, closet or urinal spuds to enable the same to be easily installed or removed from their associated equipment.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved wrench which may be readily applied to the externally threaded surfaces of spuds or similar plumbing fittings which are diflicult to hold and maintain in place while their jamb nuts are applied or removed.

A still further object of the invention is to pro vide a wrench of the character set forth above which shall be of an extremely compact size to enable the same to be used in the relatively confined spaces which are available for the installa-,

tion of such fittings. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved wrench as set forth in the foregoing objects which shall be of an extremely simple, economical and light weight construction; yet shall enable the securing of an effective grip 'upon the externally threaded portion of the ing drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating an em- 'bodiment of a wrench in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the wrench in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure 1 and illustrating the manner in which the wrench is utilized, parts being broken away;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 1 and disclosing in particular the socket contracting or clamping means of the wrench; and

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that the wrench embodying the principles of this invention is indicated generally by the numeral Ill and that the same consists of a relatively fiat and thin handle 12 which may conveniently be formed of sheet or plate material and preferably of a fiat nature, this handle terminating in a laterally enlarged or widened portion l4 which is provided with an aperture through which is secured a cup-shaped socket member I6.

As will be better apparent from Figure 5, the socket member l6 has an open upper end and at its lower side is provided with an internal flange I8 for a purpose which will be later set forth, this flange terminating in a circular opening 20. The socket member extends through the aperture in the portion I4 of the handle, so that the upper end of the socket is raised slightly above the upper surface of this handle, the socket being fixedly secured to the handle as by brazing or the like, as indicated at 22 in Figure 5.

As shown in Figure l, the socket I6 is disposed adjacent one end of the enlarged portion [4 of the handle, and a longitudinally, substantially medially disposed slot 24 extends inwardly from the outer end of the enlarged portion 14 of the handle and through the sidewall of the socket I6. This slot provides a certain degree of resiliency to the socket and handle whereby the bifurcated end portion of the handle may be squeezed together causing a contraction of the socket for a purpose which will be later apparent. 35.

The slotted portion of the wall of the socket I6 is indicated by the numeral 26 in both Figures 1 and 3.

The slot 24, as above mentioned, serves to bifurcate the enlarged portion I4 of the handle and these furcations are rolled or folded upon themselves as shown in Figures 3 and 5, to provide sleeves or tubes 28 which are aligned with each other to form axially aligned and spaced journals. The rolled ends of the extensions of the furcations are brazed to the socket member l6 as at 30 and to each other to form rigid sleevelike members. These sleeves constitute journals for rotatably receiving a clamping bolt having a shank portion 32, a perpendicularly disposed handle 34 at one end thereof, a fixedly mounted annular washer or collar 36 and an externally threaded extremity 38. As shown best in Figures 1 and 4, the clamping bolt is inserted axially into and through the sleeves 28 until the collar 36 abuts one end of one of the sleeves, with the 24 thereby contracting the socket member l6 aridqizd causing the same to fixedly engagetheexternally threaded portion 44 of a fittingl'iwith whic the wrench is employed. In order to protect'the threaded portion 44, to seat thesithneadgmnd.

prevent marring of the same-during this .contrac.-.

tion of the socket thereon, a frictional niansmay be applied to the interior surface of the isocket'ii'fl .52 abutting. .one sideJofthis wall @w'hile .jamb H .nut it will be screwed-up. upon external threads 55 upon the fitting to clampnthe same the wall; Frequently, it. is. very difficiilt..t.o'-.h old such spuds against rotation as the jamb'nut isapplied,

particularly/since it is necessary togrip the spud or fitting upon the externally threaded portion 44 thereof.

In applying the present tool to such a situation as disclosed in Figure 3, it'iwill belunderstood that the clamping .bolt 32' will 'b'eunscrewed to allow the slotted end of the portion" M to expand and the slotted socket '16 to'likew'ise expand," whereupon the socket may be readily appliedztol'the externallythreaded portion ldteithef by. screwing the same thereon, sliding the same there'over.

or the like. 'When'iapphed, theinturned'flange 18 will abut the lower end of the portion] dand may assist in supportingthe same. .At the sametime, the aperture'ZG forniedbythe intu'ri'ied'flange i8 permits access; to be had through the hollow nipple'ip'ortion'iof the fitting if desired. Withthe device applied as shown infFigureii, the clamping bolt 32 is'then tightened to contractthe split socket It and 'cause the same to securely J and tightly-embrace and: engage" the externally threaded portion, thereby preventing rotation of the same, permitting manipulationofthe fitting as desired, without danger ofslippage' or of marrin the threads thereof;

It will thus be seen that the device is ideally adapted to very expeditiously and securely handle and engage in confined and cramped quarters, portions or fittings which have heretofore been very difiicult to properly engage and secure.

From the foregoing, the construction and oper' ation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.

However, '-since numeroiis rriodifications and chang-es will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and

, accordinglyall suitable modifications and equivalents"may"'be' resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having'descri'bed the invention, what is claimed as new isz l. A Wrench'comprising a cup-shaped unitary socket for receiving the externally threaded portion of a pipe fitting, l'means in said socket for receiving, protecting and .--f-rictionally-- engaging the external-threads of saidv portion, --means for contracting-said socket upon said portion, includ ing a handle carrying saidsocket, said socket. and handle being slotted to permit contraction of the socket, said handle having aligned smooth-bore ,journal sleeves onoppositesides of the slot, said contracting means comprising a-bolt-journaled in said'sleeves, said.. bo1tvhaving atfixed' collar'engagingthe outer end ofone of said sleev'es, a-nut engaging. said bolt and fixedly secured to the other sleeve;

2. A wrench comprising a cup-shaped unitary socket for receiving-the externally-threaded-portion-- of a pipe 'fitting, means' .insaid socketfor receiving,protecting and frictionally engaging the external threadsof said pertion',-means for contracting said socket upon: said qportion'; including a-handle carrying. saidsocket, said socket and handle being slotted to permit contraction of the socket,--said handle having aligned srnooth borejournal sleeves on-opposite sides-of the slot, said-contracting means comprising a, bolt journaled in said sleeves; said sleeves consisting of integral extensionsofsaid handle folded -upon themselves,-the ends-of said extensions being homogeneouslyunited to form closed tubes.

EDWARDVR'AUSCH.

References Cited in'"the file :of: thi patent UNITED 'sTATEs' PAT-ENT's Number. 1 Name Date a D. 143,415 i Fitzpatrick Jan; 1,1946 1,457,719 W'ahl June 5, 1923 1,895,280 Currie Jan. 24 1933 1,919,708 Adams July 25, 1933 2,562,307 Flug rathnl Ju1y3l, 1951 

